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Statewide Business Briefs - Nov. 2006
State Universities
Enrollment Trends
Minority enrollment at Florida's 11 public universities rose 4.8% from fall 2005, compared with a 2.6% jump in overall enrollment, according to the Florida Board of Governors. Hispanic enrollment jumped 7.3%, while African-American enrollment increased 1.6%. Minorities now make up 35.7% of the student population at Florida's public universities.
K-12
Report Card
A report by the Hoover Institution's Koret Task Force praises Florida for the progress it has made over the past eight years under Gov. Jeb Bush's A+ education reform plan. But the panel also points to some shortcomings, including lagging scores by 10th-graders on the FCAT reading test and curriculum in elementary grades that is only loosely linked to curriculum in secondary schools. For the full report, including 30 major recommendations, go to hoover.org/publications/ books/3895672.html.
Commercial Real Estate
Shopping Centers
Seventeen shopping centers comprising 3.1 million square feet were sold in Florida's major metro retail markets during the first half of the year, according to a report by Boca Raton-based Woolbright Development. The transactions totaled $520 million -- down 42% from the first half of 2005 -- and included centers in Miami, Fort Lauderdale, Palm Beach, Tampa, Orlando and Jacksonville.
